READ: The Obstacle is the Way

This is part of our series on books that have positively impacted our lives and careers. Check out all of the books we review by following us on social media or see our previous reviews summarized here.

Have you ever wondered why some of the richest people in the world came from some of the most difficult life circumstances?Have you ever watched someone succeed that was voted “most likely to fail?” Why is it that some people overcome massive circumstances while you continue to fret over minor life issues? Some see rejections as prospect resistance, some see it as an opportunity to finally close the deal. Some people see walls, some people see yellow brick roads when viewing the same set of conditions. In this book, Ryan Holiday lays out the foundation of what is called Stoicism. It is a way of thinking that dates back to Marcus Aurelius of Roman times.

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.”

But fixing our pessimism and turning it into optimism is not an easy task. Sometimes we don’t want to be responsible for our reaction to negative events. It is easier to dwell on what is wrong than what is right. As we look through history, some of the greatest leaders of our times were people that used disadvantage to their advantage because they had learned how to deal with it.

If you are someone who is looking for a complete roadmap to fixing your mind and dealing with negative circumstances so that you can turn that to your advantage, this is well worth your time to read. This book combines many things that Lushin coaches work with their clients on every day, making it both a great guide and a great reinforcement tool.